Car-coupling.



PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906.

A. MORITZ.

CAR COUPLING.

PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906.

A. MORITZ.

OAR COUPLING.

UNITE STATES PATENT oFFioE.

CAR-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21, 1906.

Application filed January 13, 1905. erial No. 240,927.

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ADoLrH MonITz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montgomery, in the county of Montgomery and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in car-couplers, and particularly to the type provided with a knuckle and tailpiece and a lock set therefor.

The object in View is the provision of means for normaly maintaining the knuckle of a coupler in a closed condition, such means being susceptible of being sustained in a condition for releasing the knuckle.

With this and further objects in view the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a car-coupler embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 represents a vertical longitudi nal central section through the same, parts being shown in elevation and the tailpiece being illustrated in a closed condition. Fig. 3 represents a similar view with the tailpiece in an open condition. Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal horizontal section taken on a plane of line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a transverse vertical section taken on the plane of line 5 5 of Fig. 4, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 6 represents a view similar to Fig. 4 of the parts in their raised condition, as indicated in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents a top plan view of the present improved tailpiece and knuckle. Fig. 8 represents a detailed perspective view of the locking-block and couplin -pin detached. Fig. 9 represents a detai ed top plan view of the lockingblock.

The present invention relates to the same art and is an improvement upon the structure disclosed in my Patent No. 760,233, dated May 17, 1904, and it will be understood that the present improved structure is designed for more effectually accomplishing results quite efficiently attained by the structuredisclosed in said patent. By reference to said patent it will be seen that one of the objects of said structure, and of course one of the objects of the present structure, is the retaining of the knuckle in a lockedcondition regardless of the presence or absence of the knuckle-pin, and this and other objects are attained in the improved structure by the employment of elements such as are disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which 1 indicates a coupler-head carried by draw-bar 2, said head being recessed for the receptionof the tailpiece 4, carried by the knuckle 5. A suitable knuckle-pin 6 pivotally connects the knuckle 5 with the head 1 in position for permitting tailpiece 4 to swing freely into and out of the cavity within the head 1. A coupler-pin 7 extends vertically through the head 1 and is formed intermediate its length with a polysided portion 8, upon which is removably mounted a lockingblock 9. end of the pin 7 and normally rests upon the upper surface of the block 9 in position for retaining the same against the shouldered portion 11 at the lower end of the polysided portion 8. A suitable nut or other retaining means 12 engages the upper end of the pin 7 for sustaining the same in position and for locking the sleeve 10 against longitudinal movement. The pin 7 and parts carried thereby are mounted to be adjusted vertically, the block 9 being of a size for permitting vertical movement of the parts within the cavity in the head 1. The block 9 carries an arm 13, from which depends a lockingflnger 14. The arm 13 is curved longitudinally and is formed at its rear upper side With a downwardly-curved cam-surface 15, a coacting cam-surface 15 being formed on the upper rear wall of the cavity in the head 1.

Depending from the rear edge of the arm 13 is a flange 16. The free end of the tailpiece 4 is curved, adapting the same to lie between the finger 14 and the flange 16, the front wall of said flange 16 being curved to conform to the curvature of the tailpiece 4 and the wall of the locking-block 9 next to the tailpiece being curved on the same line with and continuous of said curve of the A sleeve 10 surrounds the upper 7 flange 16 as is seen clearly in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The free end of the tailpiece 4 of course swings through an arc Whose radlus is measured from the pivot of the knuckle 5 to IIO in Fig. 5, the lower edge of the flange 16 extends flush with the lower surface of the block 9, and at the outer end of the flange 16 is arranged a depending flange projection or tooth 17, extending below the plane of the lower edge of flange 16 and conforming to line of curvature of said flange. An aperture 18 is formed in the head 1 below the finger 14 in position for receiving the lower end thereof when the parts are in a closed condition and relieving the same of twisting strain.

The tailpiece 4 is formed with a notch 19 near its inner end for receiving the projection 17, as will be hereinafter described, said notch 19 being provided with walls beveled in opposite directions, as is clearly apparent in Fig. 3.

The cavity within the head 1 is formed with a depression or corner 20 near the point of the knuckle-pin 6 and a second depression 21, spaced from the depression 20, a shoulder or ridge portion 22 extending inwardly between said depressions 20 and 21. The tailpiece 4 is formed with a shoulder 23, adapted when the tailpiece is in its closed position to lie within the depression 20, the wall of the tailpiece conforming to the contour of the wall of depression 21, so that when the taillpiece is retained within the cavity in the sad 1 the shoulder 21 will engage the surrounding walls of the head and prevent the Withdrawal of the knuckle 5 even though the pin 6 may be removed. 7 Assuming the parts to be in the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 4 and it is desired to couple-the'knuckle with a similar knuckle, it

is only necessary to elevate the bolt 7 for causing the parts to assume the position indicated in Fig; 5. The elevation of the bolt 7 causes-the cam-surface 15 to contact with the cam-surface 15, such engagement producinga partial rotation ofthe block 9 and parts carried thereby, causing the flange projection 17 to assume a position above the tailpiece 4, and as soon as the pin 7 is released the projection 17 will drop into the notch 19, in which position the under surface of the block 9 and flange 16 overhangs the tailpiece 4, as seen in Fig. 6. After the parts have assumed the position indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 to open knuckle 5 it is only necessary to swing the same outwardly, which movement causes the tailpiece to ele- -Fig. 3.

vate the projection 17 said projection riding up over the inner inclined surface of the notch 19. As the end of the tailpiece passes the projection 17 the block 9 will drop to a position with its under surface and the under surface of the flange 16 resting upon the upper surface of the tailpiece 4, said tailpiece being left free to swing out wardly to its outer extreme, as indicated in When the parts are in position, as seen in Fig. 3, the block 9 is supported, as

shown, by the free end of the tailpiece 4,

which permits the inward movement of the tailpiece. To close the knuckle 5, the same is swung to the position indicated in Fig. 4,

which movement causes the inner end of the tailpiece to strike against the projection 17, which, as above described, has dropped below the plane of the upper surface of said tailpiece. Such contact of the tailpiece with the projection 17 produces a slight rearward rotation of the flange 16 and parts connected therewith, which causes the block 9 and flange 16 to slide off of the tailpiece and drop downwardly to the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, the finger 14 extending on one side of the tailpiece and the flange. 16 and block 9 lying upon the other side thereof, whereby the tailpiece is firmly locked against lateral play. I

It will be noted from the foregoing and from the disclosure in the drawings that the curvature of the tailpiece 4 ,designed to lie in contact with the curved front wall of flange 1,6, is eccentric to the pivotal mounting of the tailpiece and diminished from the outer tip of the tailpiece inwardly toward the pivot, so that when the said curved wall of the tailpiece is brought into register with said curved wall of the flange 16 the. knuckle will be retained against movement and the tailpiece positively locked in position.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a coupler, the combination with head and a knuckle pivotally connected thereto, of a vertically-movable block carried by said head and formed with a curved. surface, a tailpiece connected with said knuckle and positioned for swinging past said block, said tailpiece being formed with a curved surface conforming to the curvature of the curved surface of said block, the line of the arc struck by the movement of the free end of said tailpiece being different from the line of the curve of said block, and means carried by said head adapted to en gage the block for throwing the block to a position for being supported by the tailpiece and for releasing the tailpiece, the said block when not supported by the tailpiece being adapted to lie with its curved surface in contact with the curved surface of the tailpiece for locking the tailpiece against movement.

2. In a coupler, the combination with a head and a knuckle pivotally connected therewith, of a vertically-moving rotatably- 1 mounted pin arranged within said head, a

block carried by said pin and formed with a curved surface, a tailpiece carried by the said knuckle concentric to the curve of the block but eccentric to the line of the arc struck by the free end of the tailpiece when the knuckle is swung upon its pivot, said block being adapted to normally lie with its curved surface in contact with the curved surface of said tailpiece for locking the tailpiece against movement, and means for throwing said block to a position for being supported on the tailpiece when the block is moved vertically.

8. In a coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, a knuckle pivoted thereto and a curved tailpiece carried by said knuckle, of a pin. longitudinally and rotatably movably mounted within said head, a block carried by said pin and formed with a curved surface concentric with the curve of said tailpiece, the curve of the tailpiece being diflierent from the line of the arc struck by the free end of the tailpiece when the knuckle is swung upon its pivot, and the block being adapted to lie normally in the same horizontal plane with the tailpiece, with its curved surface in contact with the curve of the tailpiece and means for moving said block laterally when the block is elevated by longitudinal movement of said pin whereby the block is adapted to be positioned above and supported by said tailpiece for releasing the tailpiece.

4. In a coupler, the combination with a head and a knuckle pivoted thereto, of a block carried by said head, a tailpiece connected with said knuckle and adapted to swing past said block, a flange carried by said block and curved in the direction of movement of the tailpiece, a projection depending from said. flange, and means for moving said block into a position for causing said projection to rest upon said tailpiece.

5. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a coupler-head, of a coupling-pin therefor, a knuckle pivoted to said head, a tailpiece carried by said knuckle in position for swinging past said pin, a block carried by said pin, a flange carried by said block adapted to engage said tailpiece for supporting said block in position for releasing the tailpiece, and a cam-surface carried by the head and disposed above said block in position for moving the block to a releasing position when said block is elevated.

6. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, a knuckle pivoted thereto, and a tailpiece carried by said knuckle, of a locking-block engaging said tailpiece, a finger carried by said locking-block adapted to extend upon one side of said tailpiece, a flange carried by said locking-block adapted to extend upon the other side thereof, and

means for directing said flange into engagement with said tailpiece.

7. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, a knuckle pivoted thereto, and a tailpiece carried by said knuckle, of a pivotally-mounted block, a flange carried by said block and formed with a curved wall adapted to be engaged by said tailpiece for swinging said block to a locked condition, and means for directing said flange into engagement with said tailpiece for supporting said block in a released condition.

8. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, a knuckle connected therewith, and a tailpiece carried by said knuckle, of a block pivoted contiguous to the path of movement of said tailpiece, a finger carried by said block and extending beyond the path of movement of the tailpiece, a flange carried by said block adapted to engage the tailpiece on the opposite side from said finger for locking the tailpiece in its closed position, and means for pivotally moving the block when elevated for positioning said flange upon said tailpiece for supporting the parts with the tailpiece in a released condition.

9. In a car-coupler, the combination with a couplerhead, a knuckle pivotally connected thereto, and a tailpiece carried by said knuckle, of a pivotally-mounted lockingblock, a flange carried by said locking-block adapted to lie at one side of said tailpiece when the tailpiece is in its closed condition, a finger carried by said block designed to lie upon the opposite side of said tailpiece when the tailpiece is in its closed condition, and means for directing said flange above the tailpiece when said block is elevated for causing said parts to be supported in an unlocked condition, said tailpiece being adapted to contact with said flange when swinging from an open to a closed position for swinging said block and causing the same to assume a locking position with respect to the tailpiece.

10. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, a knuckle pivoted thereto, and a curved tailpiece carried thereby, of a pivotally-mounted block having one of its walls curved to conform to the contour of said tailpiece, a finger carried by said block spaced from said wall a distance equal to the thickness of said tailpiece, whereby said tailpiece is adapted to be passed between said wall and flnger, a flange carried by said block, and a cam carried by the head and positioned above the block adapted when the block is raised, to causing the same to swing to a position for causing said flange to extend across the tailpiece for permitting release of said tailpiece, said tailpiece being adapted to be moved freely between said finger and block when said flange is above said tailpiece, said flange being formed with a curved wall adapted to be struck by the inner end of said tailpiece when the tailpiece is being moved to a closed condition and moved in- Wardly thereby for causing the parts to assume a locked condition.

11. In a coupler the combination with a head, and a knuckle pivoted thereto, of a block carried by said head formed With a curved surface, a tailpiece connected With said knuckle in position for swinging beneath said block, said tailpiece being formed With a curved surface conforming to the curvature of the curved surface of said block,

the line of the arc struck by the movement of the free end of said tailpiece being diflergrlit 1from the line of the curvature of said I 5 In testimony y vhereof I afiiX my signature .in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ADOLPH MORITZ. l/Vitnesses:

F. J. PoUNDsBoNE, L. D. HALE. 

